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Z  ðŸ–‰ Written by Seán Byers. Recommended by Barry Murray.

Ireland north and south is faced with challenges that are commonplace across Western Europe.

There is poverty and wealth inequality, regional economic imbalance and a chronic shortage of social and affordable housing. Public services and infrastructure are crumbling after years of privatisation and austerity, and struggling to meet the needs of an ageing population. The ecological crisis is deepening, with little prospect of a state-led just transition of the energy system or the economic sectors with the greatest environmental impacts. Amidst all of this, a resurgent far right has emerged to capitalise on the social grievances that have been accumulating since the 2008 financial crisis.

These challenges are also uniquely shaped by the legacy of colonialism and partition. The Republic of Ireland, though formally independent and firmly integrated into the West, continues to be largely defined by a comprador model of economic development that relies on facilitating the profit-seeking strategies of transnational capital.

In the six counties, neoliberalism and austerity have been structurally imposed via Westminster, with the devolved northern statelet lacking the real economic and political agency to chart its own path.

Continue reading @ Z.

A Democratic Economy In A New Ireland

Z  ðŸ–‰ Written by Seán Byers. Recommended by Barry Murray.

Ireland north and south is faced with challenges that are commonplace across Western Europe.

There is poverty and wealth inequality, regional economic imbalance and a chronic shortage of social and affordable housing. Public services and infrastructure are crumbling after years of privatisation and austerity, and struggling to meet the needs of an ageing population. The ecological crisis is deepening, with little prospect of a state-led just transition of the energy system or the economic sectors with the greatest environmental impacts. Amidst all of this, a resurgent far right has emerged to capitalise on the social grievances that have been accumulating since the 2008 financial crisis.

These challenges are also uniquely shaped by the legacy of colonialism and partition. The Republic of Ireland, though formally independent and firmly integrated into the West, continues to be largely defined by a comprador model of economic development that relies on facilitating the profit-seeking strategies of transnational capital.

In the six counties, neoliberalism and austerity have been structurally imposed via Westminster, with the devolved northern statelet lacking the real economic and political agency to chart its own path.

Continue reading @ Z.
A Reader's Recommendation Irish Economy

1 comment:

  1. B. A. C 122:31 PM, October 17, 2024

    What is it going to produce though to extract from a profit, money a democratic structure can decide to spend in an egalitatian manner.

    Beef, dáta centres, semi conductors?

    The conversation needs to be taken to the next level, it's very likely a storm is coming. This is on top of a boom with focused inflation at the lower end and young people emigrating.

    Yes change needs to happen but is it the same model under democratic control or can enough wealth be generated through different means

    ReplyDelete

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